Amazon Studios Greenlights The Horror of Dolores Roach

Amazon Studios has ordered the new series The Horror of Dolores Roach from Blumhouse Television, Spotify’s Gimlet and GloNation Studios.

Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) is set to star in the title role. The 8×30-minute series is based on the hit Gimlet podcast series of the same name.

It follows as Dolores Roach is released from prison after 16 years and returns to a severely gentrified Washington Heights with $200 and the clothes on her back. Her boyfriend is missing, her family is long gone and she reunites with an old stoner buddy, Luis, who gives her room and board and lets her give massages for cash in the basement under his dilapidated storefront, Empanada Loca, the only remnant of her former life. When the promise of her newfound stability is quickly threatened, “Magic Hands Dolores” is driven to shocking extremes to survive, and in the face of unexpected professional success, Dolores and Luis become dangerously symbiotic, and Luis must unleash his own peculiar predilections.

Aaron Mark, who wrote and directed the original podcast, and Dara Resnik will serve as co-showrunners and executive produce the series, alongside Gloria Calderón Kellett and Roxann Dawson, who directed the pilot.

“After eight years living with the indomitable Dolores Roach in multiple forms, I could not be more thrilled to be bringing her to life on television with this powerhouse team,” said Mark.

Marc Resteghini, head of development at Amazon Studios, said, “We at Amazon Studios fell in love with this story along with everyone else as the podcast captured listeners. We couldn’t be more excited and fortunate to be working with such world-class creatives to bring Dolores Roach to screen in what is sure to be a captivating series.”

“Dolores Roach is exactly the type of fresh, bold and completely unique storytelling that Blumhouse is passionate about making,” said Chris McCumber, president of Blumhouse Television. “Audiences will soon see why this modern-day horror story with a darkly humorous twist is just so special.”

Lydia Polgreen, managing director of Spotify’s Gimlet, said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the teams at Amazon Studios, Blumhouse and GloNation to bring Spotify/Gimlet’s fan favorite, The Horror of Dolores Roach, from podcast to screens. The complicated story of Dolores Roach, colored by the bustling soundscape of New York City, not only lends itself to immersive audio but also rich storytelling. We’re honored to have this action-packed adventure of Dolores Roach, voiced in the podcast by Daphne Rubin-Vega and portrayed in the series by Justina Machado, exist in audio and on the screen.”